August 6th, 2008

Sling Your Baby

Sling Your Baby – The Benefits of Babywearing

By Claire Willis, of SnugBaby

When I talked to a friend the other day about “babywearing” she was completely confused as to what I meant – she thought perhaps I was suggesting she use her little darling as a hat.

However, when renowned paediatrician, Dr William Sears invented the term “babywearing” in the 1980s, I’m fairly sure he meant it to mean all the possible methods of carrying a baby, and not the wearing of babies as fashion accessories. So, as one concept to cover the myriad of different ways of carrying a baby, it is great to have a catch-all phrase, even if it is a weird sounding way of putting it.

In all fairness to the human race, Dr Sears only came up with the name for something that had been going on since… well, since the first human mummy stood up, looked around and said, “Now, where did I put Baby?” Even before that our simian ancestors did (and still do) carry their offspring in a variety of ways attached to the fur of different parts of their bodies.

Humans around the world have been carrying their offspring for millennia BPT (Before Phil and Ted) and anything that has been going that long is subject to local diversity, so it’s not surprising to find a variety of methods. Of course in “less developed” countries it is still regarded as the best way of getting your kids around before they can keep up, so you will find African, Asian and South American varieties. It even used to be popular in the “developed” west before the Georgian and Victorian aristocracy persuaded everyone that children should be kept as far away from their parents as possible, handing them to nannies to be genteelly wheeled around in perambulators.

Dr Sears came up with some interesting facts, for instance, did you know that carrying your baby upright can reduce the effects of colic and reflux – definitely worth considering if you have a colicky baby (and if you do, you will try anything…I did!). Babies who are carried learn more quickly, as they spend their time being involved in your world, not just watching, but participating; developing a brain that is learning to learn.

Some people suggest that having your baby in a sling will make him clingy. Doesn’t it? Exactly the opposite, actually. Baby becomes more emotionally secure and independent as he knows you are around as a safe base from which to explore.

Need I go on? Well, if us mums are permitted a bit of selfishness, there are always the extra calories you burn by carrying your baby, and the way you can breastfeed discreetly, and the general snugly cuddles you both get to enjoy, which stimulate your new-mum hormones, and can help to reduce the likelihood and severity of post-natal depression. What do you do to get your baby off to sleep in a pram? You rock him and talk to him to simulate the motion and closeness of your own body. Now who’s starting to look more “developed”?

There are a huge variety of baby carriers around, and every “Babywearer” has their own personal favourite, although some people switch between different styles.

Mei-Tais

My own favourite is the Mei Tai, which is basically a square of fabric with straps at each corner. Because of its simple design it can be used in a variety of different positions. Simply put though, the bottom straps are tied around your waist, and the top straps go over your shoulders and wrap around you, and are then knotted, securely strapping your baby to your body.

Ring Slings

Another popular type is the Ring Sling, which is a long piece of fabric, with rings at one end. The fabric is threaded through the rings, and back on itself, to form a circle, which is very secure. The baby lies in the pouch that is formed.

Baby Wraps

Probably the first to be “invented” and indeed, still widely used, is a “wrap” or “piece of cloth”, which is quite simply tied around baby and carer, or folded into a sling shape.

These types of sling are adjustable, and one size does fit all. There are many more variations of carriers, involving headrests, padding and different shapes – and that’s before you even look at the vast array of colours and patterns available.

So, are they easy to use? Surely they can’t be as convenient as a pushchair? Yes, they are very easy, and they fold up small. Can you get a pushchair in your handbag? Can you afford a pushchair to go with every outfit?

You can go up stairs, through narrow doorways or for a pleasant summer walk. And you don’t have to push an empty one round town when junior decides he would rather walk. So I would say yes. But, your husband wouldn’t be seen dead in one? Well, men with babies are very attractive – remember that Athena poster? And Brad Pitt has carried baby Shiloh in one, so how can he object?

 Having said all that, the main benefit for me, at least to start with, was that I regained the use of my hands after months of trying to make lunch, hoover, iron and just about anything else you care to think of, all whilst holding on to my dear son. So, slings, carriers, mei tais, call them whatever you like, are starting to sound like a good idea, aren’t they? I have to admit, I got in to babywearing through necessity rather than choice, but I do love it, and so does my now rather chunky 22 month old son. The only difficulty now is choosing which fabric for the next one…

The owner of SnugBaby, Claire Willis, is a mum with two children. After the birth of her second son, she discovered babywearing and, decided to design and make her own brand of mei tai carriers, which she now sells through her website, http://snugbaby.co.uk/

Posted in General
By Laura